Dumsor looms: Jinapor warns over fuel shortage
John Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu, has raised concerns over an impending power crisis, commonly known as ‘dumsor,’ due to a severe fuel shortage.
Speaking after the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama in Accra on Tuesday, January 7, 2024, Jinapor revealed that the country’s fuel stock is dangerously low, with only five hours of fuel remaining.
“I have bad news for you, the confirmation we are getting is that we have only five hours of fuel stock. If you look at heavy fuel oil and diesel fuel, we don’t have up to two days, and so in two days’ time, we are likely to run out of fuel,” Jinapor stated.
He further criticized the outgoing administration for its failure to procure necessary fuel supplies, leaving the incoming administration in a vulnerable position.
“This administration has not ordered any fuel as we speak, and it takes on average four weeks for the fuel to arrive and four weeks for the fuel to be treated, and so we are in a very serious situation,” he said in an interview with Joy News.
Jinapor also pointed out that during the transition, the outgoing administration had assured them that fuel parcels had been procured. However, checks indicated there is not enough fuel to last even two days.
“Today, right after President Mahama assumed office and I served on the transition, my checks indicate that we do not have fuel that can cater for even two days, and so clearly we have a major, major problem,” he emphasized.
The MP warned that even if the incoming administration orders fuel immediately, it will take approximately eight weeks for it to arrive and be processed, leading to an extended period of power outages.
“We are in for real trouble,” Jinapor concluded, urging immediate action to address the looming crisis.